Republican senator calls on Trump to fire Secretary of Defence Hegseth

What the report says

Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, publicly urged President Donald Trump to dismiss Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of mismanaging the Pentagon and creating a leadership gap in the armed forces. Al Jazeera reported that Tillis made the call in a social media post on Wednesday, linking his criticism to tensions inside the Defence Department and the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll earlier this week.

According to the report, Tillis said Hegseth was focusing on culture-war battles rather than the core work of national defence and the welfare of service members. He argued that the Pentagon chief has pushed out experienced military leaders and blocked promotions, while limiting access for journalists and pursuing efforts to eliminate what he describes as “wokeness” from the military. Tillis also contrasted Hegseth with Driscoll, saying the departing Army secretary understood the changing nature of warfare.

Tillis previously supported Hegseth’s confirmation, though Al Jazeera noted that he did so reluctantly amid concerns raised in the Senate. The broader backdrop is the US war with Iran, which Al Jazeera says has intensified scrutiny of Hegseth as the conflict stretches on and strains military resources. The report said the war has raised concerns about munitions stocks, fuel prices and public support for the Trump administration. As a general point of context, senior defence officials often come under pressure when major conflicts expose questions about readiness, leadership and military planning.